Skippy has passed; 12 y/o Yorkie with likely pituitary tumor (Trilostane)

Live in hope, die in despair or whatever one does. Skippy's engagement in life was brief to say the least. Now we are back to sleeping, little appetite, starts to walk and then heads for home, more staring, lethargy, no playing and little interaction. He is tolerating the Vetoryl and has no tremors. I've read all that I can find on here about macrotumors, including Kathy and Laurie's threads. I am now considering an MRI or CT scan if I can swing the cost. I found cost estimates on the University of Illinois website and they estimated an MRI with contrast at $1,200. Do you all know if that is a lowball estimate? If it is a macro, I don't know if I could afford or he would be a candidate for radiation. But right now we are in limbo with little prospect for future improvement. I would appreciate your thoughts or feedback. Thank you

Also, continuing to test Skip for various diseases, i.e., lymphoma, melanoma, changing medication, taking him off Vetoryl, etc., is feeling like a magical mystery tour through the process of elimination. Patience is truly a virtue but doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different outcome is contributing to my insanity! :)

Before I went to the expense of looking for a macro, I would make sure I was willing and able to pursue treatment should one be found or should something else be found. Otherwise it is a waste of money and unnecessary stress for Skipper. ;) So for me, that is always the first thing I have to decide when faced with testing of any kind...will I and can I do anything about what is found? Next is - are there any options available that I can afford and would ask of my baby?

Well drat. yes $1200 is about on target for an MRI or CT scan. Leslie makes a good point of if it would change your current path or not based on what is found.

Did they take biopsies to test for any kind of lymphoma? What do they recommend doing (Purdue)

Leslie and Sharlene,
In response to your questions and comments: My thinking about an MRI is this: if Skippy has a macro tumor (and he has many of the symptoms) we need to know whether or not it is too large to treat. Yes, I would potentially treat but he may be beyond that. Re: lymphoma, no biopsies but they did extract fluid or tissue from each gland (I know there is a medical term for this) and saw no evidence of lymphoma. I'm not sure where the melanoma question came from except that he has three or four lumps on various parts of his body in addition to the adenoma on his butt. (He had a number of lumps removed last May but I don't think they were biopsied.) Scott-Moncrieff was reviewing Skippy's history and said, via the IMS, to stop the Vetoryl if it's not working; Skippy will see her on the 21st. I have continued the Vetoryl with the hope of lowering the cortisol.
However, this morning we are back to mild tremoring and diarrhea and he has been reluctant to eat and only eating small portions the past few days. So we are taking a Vetoryl break and I'll see how he does for a few days. I guess I need to see what Dr. Scott-Moncrieff recommends next week before making any decisions about an MRI. Finally, I called the local vet last week about securing a biopsy with sedation of the adenoma tomorrow, so as to rule out a malignancy before next week's appointment. Meanwhile, Skippy is pretty miserable. Thank you for your feedback.

I feel for you Carole, it sounds exactly what we have been going through with Charlotte, good days can turn to bad days very quickly. My husband has even used the insanity quote. Unfortunately we can't afford a CT scan or MRI (UC Davis quoted us $1600-$2000 for the CT and said it would be over $2000 for the MRI) and like Leslie said, if we can't follow through on the treatment once the diagnosis has been made then it really is just wasted money and unnecessary stress to the dog. But I sure do wish we knew for sure what we are dealing with!

The quote you got from the University of Illinois sounds good and if you would be able to treat, if he is a candidate, then it would be so helpful for you to know what is going on with him. I wish you and Skippy all the best, whatever you decide!

Laurie

Thanks Laurie and I posted a note on your thread regarding Charlotte's great and I hope long lasting progress.

Skippy took himself off Vetoryl yesterday as he stopped eating. And, he was supposed to have a biopsy of his tumor on his butt this morning, but I cancelled as he has diarrhea and seems weak. He continues to sleep this morning and I am still trying to figure out what to do next. If he is drinking, the answer is likely nothing.

Hi, Hoping things turn around for poor Skippy and it's just a bad day. I'm in a sad place right now with our boy, so I really do feel for you.
Annie and Whiskey

I'm so sorry Carole, poor little Skippy. Is he doing any better today?

Laurie